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Rowers rescued as boat started sinking across Pacific

A team of British and New Zealand rowers taking part in a race from California to Hawaii have been airlifted to safety after their boat began sinking during the challenge.

Two of the four crew members who were airlifted to safety during the Great Pacific Race. Credit: YouTube/TeamPacificRowers

Fraser Hart, 33, from Tunbridge Wells, Sam Collins, 24, from Cornwall, James White, 35, from London and Colin Parker, 35, from Auckland, New Zealand, were attempting to row the 2,400 nautical miles from Monterey, California to Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday.

Their boat began taking on water and a support boat from the Great Pacific Race was sent to evacuate them when they were 77 nautical miles due west of Morro Bay but it was unable to do so due to "dangerous weather conditions".

The US Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from San Francisco to evacuate the crew at 11.30pm local time yesterday.

Chris Martin, race director of the Great Pacific Race, confirmed all four of the men were "safe and well" with no reported medical problems.